Operator for louver type windows



Nov. 3, 1959 L. M. MUHN 2,910,743;

'OPERATOR FOR LOUVER TYPE WINDOWS Filed Aug. 5, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig./

Les/er M. Mu/m INVENTOR.

Nov. 3, 1959 M. MUHN OPERATOR FOR LOUVER TYPE WINDOWS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug 3, 1956 I I 1 r I 1 1 z I I z 1 (Ill 9 I III w United States Patent OPERATOR FOR LOUVER TYPE WINDOWS Lester M. Muhn, Miami, Fla.

Application August 3, 1956, Serial No. 601,858

Claims. (Cl. 20-62) This invention generally relates to a novel concept in operating handles or handle assemblies for the operation of jalousie type windows and more particularly relates to that improvement forming a locking means for the louvers so that the louvers and the operating handle may be locked in any position.

In the development of louver type windows, awnings or other similar closures, the louvers have been constructed of glass, wood, aluminum and other similar materials with a plurality of louvers being interconnected by a single actuating bar for simultaneous pivotal movement of the louvers. For moving this actuating bar, various types of mechanisms have been provided which are normally operable from the inside of a building. While various types of operating handles have been provided, such handles do not incorporate means for automatically locking the louvers in any angular position. Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an operating handle which incorporates a mechanism for automatically locking the louvers and the operating handle in any adjusted position within its range of movement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an operating handle having a trigger mechanism and a positive lock incorporating a series of meshed teeth so that the mechanism will be automatically locked when the handle is released and due to the meshed teeth forming the lock, the louvers will be locked in any position since the multiplicity of teeth form a multiplicity of locking positions.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved operating handle and stationary member having interlocking toothed surfaces adapted to be tightly engaged for locking the handle against operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved operating handle having a rotatable lever and a movable lock member actuated by squeezing and releasing the lever for engaging the lock member with a stationary member so as to lock the lever against rotation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved operator handle having a movable lock member in the form of a bevel gear rotatable with its lever and movable transversely thereof, the lever being pivoted in the plane of the bevel gear whereby the bevel gear undergoes transverse movement relative to said lever and transverse movement in relation to a stationary toothed lock member so as to facilitate operation of the handle and locking thereof.

Other objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity of construction, ease of installation on existing jalousie type windows having an actuating bar, efficiency of operation, ease of locking and unlocking and its relatively inexpensive manufacturing and maintenance cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like. numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a partial elevational view of the operating; handle of the present invention installed on a jalousie. type window;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged: scale taken substantially upon a plane passing along; section line 2-2 of Figure 1 illustrating the details of construction of the locking mechanism;

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view on a reduced scale showing the locking mechanism in unlocked position;

Figure 4 is a detailed plan sectional view on a reduced scale taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 44 of Figure 2 illustrating further structural details and relationships of the elements of the invention; and

Figure 5 is an exploded group perspective view illustrating the mechanism forming the operating handle and lock mechanism of the present invention.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the operating handle of the present invention which is mounted on the vertical frame member 12 of a jalousie type window having a plurality of louvers 14 of glass which are mounted in generally U- shaped clips 15 which is conventional construction and represents no part of the present invention. Each of the clips 15 is provided with a projecting tab 16 which are interconnected by an actuating bar 18 which is flat and will simultaneously pivot all of the clips and louvers for pivoting or tilting movement thereof. The actuating bar 18 is also conventional in construction and forms no part; of the present invention except in its relationship to the other elements thereof. An actuating link 20 is pivotally secured to the bar 18 by a pivot pin 22 which may be removable and this link 20 is behind the bar 18. The free end of the link 20 is pivotally connected to an actuating arm 24 by pivot pin 26 with the actuating arm 24 being an integral part of a segmental bevel gear 28 mounted on a transverse pin 30 in a hollow housing 32. The

housing 32 is provided with vertically projecting ears 34.

with openings 36 therein for receiving fasteners 38 for securing the housing 32 to the frame 12 with the arm 24 projecting through opening 40 therein.

The housing 32 is provided with a recessed portion 42 for receiving screens or the like disposed inwardly of the window and this recessed portion is defined by a laterally extending portion 44 of the housing 32. The plane of the arm 24 is substantially parallel to the plane of the tabs 16 on the clips 15, the actuating bar 13 and connecting link 20 and swings in that vertical plane. Disposed in perpendicular relation thereto is a drive bevel gear 46 mounted on shaft 48 which is perpendicular to the pivot pin 30 and the drive bevel gear 46 is in meshing engagement with the driven bevel gear 28. The shaft 48 is pro vided with a non-cylindrical crosssectional area 50 which is formed by flattened sides and this area is terminally secured to a transversely elongated handle 52 by a screw threaded fastener 54 extending through the handle 52 and axially into the center of the shaft 48. The handle 52 forms a hollow portion which closes the open end of the housing 32 and projects laterally therefrom in a smooth curved handle grip portion designated by the numeral 56. Thus by pivoting the handle grip portion 56 of the handle 52 about an axis formed by shaft 48, the drive bevel gear 46 will be caused to rotate thereby rotating the driven bevel gear 28 about pivot pin 30 thus swinging the arm 24 in a vertical plane about the pivot pin 30 thereby moving the connecting link 20 and actuating bar 18 for tilting the louvers 14.

The cylindrical hollow area designated by the numeral 58 which receives the drive bevel gear 46 is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed threaded recesses 60 which define substantially semi-cylinders. Disposed in the area 58 is a circular disc 62 having diametrically opposed threaded recesses 64 of semi-cylindrical configuration for receiving fastening screws 66 which will rigidly secure the disc 62 in the area 58 thus retaining and confining the drive bevel gear 46 in meshing engagemjentwith the gear 28. The outer surface of the disc 62 is provided with a concave portion 68 that is provided with a plurality of gear teeth thus forming an internal bevel toothed locking member. The center of the disc 62 is provided with an aperture 70 for journaling the shaft '48 to which the gear 46 is secured. Thus, the disc or lock member 62 is stationary with the housing projectingf portion 44. and forms a bearing for the shaft 48 along with the socket 72 in the housing 44.

"A movable lock member in the form of a bevel gear 74 is provided and has a projecting hub 7 6 with a groove 78 thereon for receiving the bifurcated ends 869 of a shifting rerk 'or trigger 82. The hub 76 is provided with a bore 84 of non-circular cross-section which is adapted to closelyfieceive the non-circular portion 50 of the shaft 48'thi1s locking the toothed lock member 74 to the shaft 48. The face of the bevel gear '74 is provided with gear teeth 86 which match and will mesh with the gear teeth inconcave portion 68 of the stationary lock member or disc 62 When the movable lock member 74 is in meshing engagement with the teeth in portion 68, the shaft Will be precluded from rotation thereby locking the drive bevel gear 46, driven bevel gear 2?, arm 24, link 20 and actuating bar 18 in adjusted position thereby locking the louvers in adjusted position.

The fork or trigger 82 extends outwardly under the hollow handle grip portion 56 of the handle 52 and is pivotally attached thereto at its outer end by a pivot pin 88 A compression coil spring 90 is disposed between the handle 52 and the fork 82 adjacent the inner end thereof for normally urging the birfurcated ends 89 of the fork 82 in a direction for urging the lock member 74 into locking engagement with the teeth in portion 68 formed in the disc 62 thereby sliding the lock member 74 on shaft 48 towards a position for locking the bevel gears 46 and 28 against rotation.

Thus by grasping the handle grip portion 56 of the handle 52 and squeezing the trigger or fork 82, the lock gear or member 7 4 will be caused to move from the locked position as illustrated in Figure 2 to the unlocked position as illustrated in Figure 3 thus permitting the handle to be rotated for adjusting or tilting the louvers 14 as desired. Byreleasing the trigger or fork 32 when the louvers 14 are in the desired position, the louvers 14 will be automatically locked in this position. The selectively meshed locking gear or member 74- provides a variable position lock so that the louvers 14 may be positively locked in any angular relation.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, failing within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An operating mechanism for louver type windows having a frame with the louvers being interconnected for simultaneous movement by an actuating bar, said mechanism including a housing adapted to be mounted on the frame, a link pivotally connected to said bar, a driven bevel gear journaled in said housing, a laterally extending arm rigid with said bevel gear, said arm being pivotally connected with said link, a drive bevel gear journaled in said housing and in meshing engagement with the driven bevel gear, a handle connected to the drive gear, and means for locking said drive gear and handle any angular position thus locking the louvers in any 4. desired position, said locking means including a shaft journaled in said housing and fixed to said drive bevel gear and said handle, said shaft having a portion of noncircular cross-section, a lock member slidably mounted on said portion of the shaft for positive rotation therewith, means rigid with said housing for interlocking engagement by said lock member, the interlocking engagement of the slidable lock member with said rigid means precluding rotation of the lock member thus precluding rotation of the shaft and bevel gears, and trigger means carried by the handle for releasing said lock member from said rigid means, said lock member including a peripheral groove therein, said trigger means including an elongated fork member having a bifurcated end received in said groove, the other end of said fork member being pivotally attached to the underside of the handle adjacent the outer end thereof, spring means urging the fork member and lock member towards a locking position remote from the handle whereby squeezing and releasing the fork member and handle will release and lock the louvers in adjusted position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lock member is in the form of a bevel toothed member, said rigid means including a disc having an internal concave portion with teeth formed thereon for receiving and meshing engagement with said movable toothed member, said disc also forming a bearing for said shaft.

3. An operator for louver windows and jalousies including a housing, a shaft rotatably mounted in the housing, a lever pivotally mounted in said housing, meshing gears fixed to the shaft and lever for pivoting the lever upon rotation of said shaft, a stationary locking member fastened to said housing and overlying and confining the shaft gear, a complementary locking member slidably confined upon said shaft and rotatable therewith, the locking members having coacting surfaces, a trigger element having connection with the slidable member forreciprocating said member into and out of engagement with the stationary member, and means for urging said slidable member into engagement with said stationary mem her, a handle fastened to the shaft and having the trigger element pivotally attached thereto, means for urging said trigger element into engagement with the slidable member including a spring interposed between the handle and element.

4. An operator for louver windows and jalousies including a housing, an element rotatably confined in the housing, a lever pivotally mounted in said housing, gear means drivingly connecting the element to the lever for pivoting said lever upon rotation of said element, means for locking said element against rotation and including a pair of coacting members, one of the members being stationary and fixed to said housing, the other of said members being slidable on and rotatable with said element, and means for reciprocating the slidable member on said .element into an out of engagement with the stationary member, said means being operable independent'ty of rotation of the element, a handle fixed to the element, said reciprocating means being pivotally attached to the handle and connected with the slidable member, and spring means interposed between the handle and the reciprocating means for urging the reciprocating means away from said handle and toward the stationary member for holding the slidable member engaged with said stationary member.

5. An operator assembly for a louver type window having a hollow frame with an access opening therein, said assembly comprising a hollow housing mounted in overlying relation to the access opening, a lever pivotally mounted in said housing and extending into the access opening for operating the louvers, a shaft journaled in the housing and drivingly connected with the lever for operating the lever, a handle fixedly secured to said shaft for rotating the shaft, releasable lock means interconnesting the shaft and housing for preventing rotation of the shaft and locking the louvers in adjusted position, a release mechanism connected with the lock means for releasing the same, spring means engaging the release mechanism for resiliently urging the release mechanism to inelfective position, said handle including a laterally 5 extending hand grip, said release mechanism including a release trigger extending alongside the inner surface of the hand grip whereby a squeezing action may be exerted on the release trigger and hand grip substantially simultaneously with rotational force being exerted there- 10 on.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS McCobb May 29, Hutt Oct. 17, Chegwidden et al June 23, Husser Mar. 18, Stearns Aug. 2, Schostak July 24, 

